The teachers that I remember most from my early (elementary, middle, or secondary) classroom experiences are always those that took the time to get to know me on a personal level. I had some great teachers, with regards to content, that were not invested in their students, so while I may remember learning a lot, that teacher did not influence the person that I am today.
I had an English teacher in high school, Mr. Caruso, that took the time to get to know me personally. He pushed all of his students to be better writers and thinkers. He had a big booming voice and an enthusiastic personality. He was my favorite teacher in all of high school. Often times, especially in competitive high schools like Barrington, students are type-cast. Unfortunately, in my school experience, teachers reinforce this (although I am not sure if this is intentional) through their actions towards students. Mr Caruso did not do this- he believed that everyone could be and should be great, regardless of your previous performance, whether that was last year or yesterday. He challenged me to be better than I had been and he made me feel like he believed that I could be better. This is something that I have taken with me; I want my students to know that I am rooting for them and will help them as they master skills. Mr Caruso made every student feel valued, which is characteristic in a teacher that is very important to the school community.
All students deserve to have teachers that challenge them and believe in them, no matter what they brought into the classroom the day before. While I was student teaching, I had one experience with a student being very disrespectful towards me in class. When I spoke to him in the hallway, he continued to be rude, and actually got in my face. My cooperating teacher encouraged me to write him up, but I wasn't sure that was the best solution. Instead, I spoke with the student the next day, one on one, in the library. I told him how I perceived his behavior and asked him for an explanation. We talked, and cleared the air. He asked me if class was going to be awkward. I assured him that it is business as usual in the classroom and that each day is a new day. I wanted him to feel comfortable entering the classroom, and I made and effort to continue to encourage his academic contributions. Interestingly, I heard from him two weeks after he graduated- he emailed me some of his writing and told me that he thought I would appreciate it, since I was so interested in his work. That is a lesson that Mr Caruso unknowingly taught me- that the little things matter and that everyone deserves a fresh start each day.
After high school, I babysat for a family in town and the dad knew my old English teacher. He said that he asked Mr. Caruso about me, and he said that I was one of his favorite students and that I epitomized a student athlete. He said that he knew I would do great things one day. That has stayed with me. I think it is one of the nicest things that someone has ever said about me, but it is also so meaningful because it came from someone that I respected/respect so much.
I had an English teacher in high school, Mr. Caruso, that took the time to get to know me personally. He pushed all of his students to be better writers and thinkers. He had a big booming voice and an enthusiastic personality. He was my favorite teacher in all of high school. Often times, especially in competitive high schools like Barrington, students are type-cast. Unfortunately, in my school experience, teachers reinforce this (although I am not sure if this is intentional) through their actions towards students. Mr Caruso did not do this- he believed that everyone could be and should be great, regardless of your previous performance, whether that was last year or yesterday. He challenged me to be better than I had been and he made me feel like he believed that I could be better. This is something that I have taken with me; I want my students to know that I am rooting for them and will help them as they master skills. Mr Caruso made every student feel valued, which is characteristic in a teacher that is very important to the school community.
All students deserve to have teachers that challenge them and believe in them, no matter what they brought into the classroom the day before. While I was student teaching, I had one experience with a student being very disrespectful towards me in class. When I spoke to him in the hallway, he continued to be rude, and actually got in my face. My cooperating teacher encouraged me to write him up, but I wasn't sure that was the best solution. Instead, I spoke with the student the next day, one on one, in the library. I told him how I perceived his behavior and asked him for an explanation. We talked, and cleared the air. He asked me if class was going to be awkward. I assured him that it is business as usual in the classroom and that each day is a new day. I wanted him to feel comfortable entering the classroom, and I made and effort to continue to encourage his academic contributions. Interestingly, I heard from him two weeks after he graduated- he emailed me some of his writing and told me that he thought I would appreciate it, since I was so interested in his work. That is a lesson that Mr Caruso unknowingly taught me- that the little things matter and that everyone deserves a fresh start each day.
After high school, I babysat for a family in town and the dad knew my old English teacher. He said that he asked Mr. Caruso about me, and he said that I was one of his favorite students and that I epitomized a student athlete. He said that he knew I would do great things one day. That has stayed with me. I think it is one of the nicest things that someone has ever said about me, but it is also so meaningful because it came from someone that I respected/respect so much.